What is Microsoft Windows 10?

Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed and released by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was released on July 29, 2015 and is the successor to Windows 8.1, released almost two years earlier.

One of the key features of Windows 10 is its ability to run on a wide range of devices, including laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones. It also introduces several new features, including the digital personal assistant Cortana, the Microsoft Edge web browser, and support for virtual reality.

Windows 10 is designed to be compatible with the hardware and software applications that ran on earlier versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. It also includes a number of security and performance improvements, as well as support for new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).

Windows 10 is offered as a free upgrade for qualified Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices, and is also available for purchase as a standalone product. As of September 2021, it is the most widely used version of Windows, with an estimated market share of around 40%.

Windows 10 has several new features and improvements compared to previous versions of Windows. Some of the notable ones include:

• Cortana: Cortana is a digital personal assistant that can perform a variety of tasks, such as setting reminders, answering questions, and searching the web. It is available on Windows 10 devices as a search feature and can be activated by voice or text.

• Microsoft Edge: Microsoft Edge is a web browser that replaces Internet Explorer as the default browser in Windows 10. It is designed to be faster and more secure than Internet Explorer, and includes features such as annotation tools and a reading mode.

• Virtual Reality: Windows 10 includes support for virtual reality (VR) headsets, allowing users to experience immersive VR content on their computers.

• Universal Windows Platform (UWP): UWP is a platform for building apps that can run on any device running Windows 10, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones. This allows developers to create apps that are consistent across different devices, and makes it easier for users to access their apps on multiple devices.

• Continuum: Continuum is a feature that allows users to switch between a desktop mode and a tablet mode on devices that can be used as both laptops and tablets. This allows users to optimize their experience for the mode they are in.

• Windows Hello: Windows Hello is a feature that uses biometric authentication, such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, to allow users to log in to their devices without a password.

Overall, Windows 10 aims to provide users with a more seamless and consistent experience across devices, and introduces a number of new features and improvements over previous versions of Windows.